Improved construction of lightning-rods



BALDWIN & PARKS.

Lightning Rod.

Patented Aug. 9, 18.59.

' To all whom it may concern thereof; Fig. 3, an elevation of points and seceach of the angles serves to give a greater sudiate between those of the copper.

UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE.

L. s. BALDWIN AND LUOIUS PARKS, or LE ROY, new YORK, 'Assrc-noas TO L. s ALLWIN.

IMPROVED CONSTRUQTION OF LIGHTNING-RODS.

Specification formi f Letters Patcnt No. 25,077., dated August 9, 1859.

' Be it known that we, L. S. BALDWIN and LUCIUS PARIis, of Le Boy, in the county of Livingston and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Construction of Lightning-Rods; and we'do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the'accompan'ying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a vertical elevation of a portion of our rod; Fig. 2, a cross-section tion of the bulb K; Fig. 4, a plan view of the same. v Similar letters refer to in all of the figures. p I

To construct'our rod we take a piece of sheetcopper of suitable dimensions, and shape it by passing it through a machine for the purpose into a quadrangular tube of the required size, say, about one-halfor five-eighths of an inch. A second operation by machinery converts its plane faces into concave or fluted sides A, Fig. -2. It is then twisted till it assumes the spiral form-shown in Fig. 1. It is then. slipped over an iron rod, B, of a size just sutficicnt to fill the aperture, which may be seen through its center, and which is apparently round, as the eye follows into its depths, the interior or convex surfaces of the fluted sides forming a continuous spiral bearing on the surface of the rod. This secures great strength and stifi'ness to the combined rod, the four angles 0 of the tube, together with its concave sides, which bear against the iron, acting as braces to the interior rod, the two mutually strengthening each other.

The space between the red and its shank at corresponding parts perficial area to the conducting capacity of the copper, while, should that prove insufficient for the amount of electricity present, theiron, as the next best conductor, will receive the surplus. 3

In joining the pieces of the copper tubing,- one endis slightly enlarged to receive that of the next piece, while the rod B, by extending through both, prevents the point from becoming disconnected. If joints are required in the inner rod they should occur at points intermenection with the rod, a bulb,

being in contact at their lower .Our principal point consists of a triangular dart, E, the edges of which dd, Fig. 4, are made prominent by fiuting the sides. It is composed of copper, the surfaces being plated with silver, and that part constituting the point with gold. Below the dart, near its place of con- G, is provided, which is hollow, loadstone magnet.

In the upper surface of the bulb are inserted the auxiliary points H, three in number, their direction diverging from the main point E, and their position relative to it equidistant between the angles d, so as to bring their line of attraction to act intermediately, or upon a different field from that of the edges d. They are made of steel, and become magnetized from ends with the magnet K, thus combining the influence of magnetism with the arrangement of the tripple-edge pointed dart E and auxiliary darts H, for presenting the most complete range of attraction to the electrical atmosphere. 1xperimentproves thata greatly-increased power of attraction is attained by these means.

The interior rod, B, is inserted in the socket M, which. is made sufiiciently long to afford a secure fastening, by which it is brought in contact with the copper eonductingtube A.

The whole combined forms a remarkably strong and efficient rod, and is cheaply made, and can be put together with unusual facility.

We am aware that a patent was granted March 30, 1858, on the invention of Oren White, consisting of iron wires enwrappcd by sheetcopper, and this we do not claim; but we believe our method herein described is an improvement on said plan, both as regards the greater stiffness, as well as unobstructed conducting-surface in the space formed by the angles 0 c, with a less amount of material. Therefore We claim- The employment of a'quadrangular tube of sheet metal with spiral-fluted sides A, in combination with the straight central supportingrod B, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein set forth.

L. S. BALDWIN. LUGIUS PARKS. Witnesses:

E. O. ALLEN, l. M. FOREMAn.

and filled with a powerfut 

